Chapter Two


June 13th, 2067
Alberta, Canada

Blood trickled down Bayonne's face as he struggled to his feet. He tried to get out of the way, but was struck once more with the butt of a morita.
"Stop it!" Cidney yelled, jumping the man from behind.
"What's going on here?" Sergeant Zim hollered as he pried the youth off of the drill instructor. "I said what the hell is going on?" All three brawlers snapped to attention. The instructor was the first to reply to Zim's question.
"A bomb was prematurely detonated by Cadet Bayonne. Two personnel had to be treated for their injuries, Sergeant."
"And you thought it would be okay to send the kid to the med lab in a coma?"
"Sir, I..." the instructor stuttered.
"He's twelve and not legally a member of the Mobile Infantry. I suggest that you report to the General. Dismissed." As the threesome slowly departed Cidney felt a hand on her shoulder. Turning around she wrapped her arm around her friend's waist, helping him into the shade.
"You didn't need to that, Neil." She whispered. Her eyes were still watching Zim as he stood surveying the damage caused by the small explosion.
"I didn't really have a choice, Cid. What would have happened if General Velasquez were told it was your lousy wiring and not mine?" Cidney jabbed him in the ribs with her finger. The boy winced and then raised a hand to direct the light flow of blood away from his eyes. As he did so, he noticed that Zim was now moving in their general direction. Looking down upon them he shook his head.
"What am I going to do with you two?" Cidney pawed at the ground with her foot as Zim knelt down beside Bayonne and lightly touched his swelling cheek. The boy quickly sucked in a breath as pain shot through his face. " I've broken the rules one too many times for you two. Sooner or later I'm going to get in major shit, so it ends now." He looked at Cidney, "No blowing up buildings," He turned to Bayonne, "And no fighting with other ranks. Is that clear?" Both kids were now starring at the ground. "Cidney, why don't you go get him a medic?"
"Yes, Sir." She said as she quickly turned and strode off.

Present Day, 2080
VF Transport Ship

Clearing unwanted childhood thoughts from her head she opened her eyes. Her timing had been perfect. Lieutenant Vaughn pushed his restraint bar over his head and stood up. Removing a holographic projector from his gear he placed it in front of his team. Flicking the power on, their eyes focused on the projection of Earth. The glowing blue orb spun, zooming in on North America, the United States, California and finally the sector in which the convoy's last transmission had been traced. Vaughn cleared his throat.
"Okay, Vipers. We're going after a convoy. Blueleader lost contact with them several days ago." Ludovick spoke up.
"And they are now just deciding to send a team in?"
"Information about this mission is on a need-to-know basis only, private.
"Apparently we don't need to know?" Campbell sounded surprised although on a need-to-know basis was how INTEL preferred to go about business.
"That's right, Campbell. Someone at HQ thought it would be better if they gave us a clear objective. Cut and dry. In and out. No confrontation with the enemy. This mission should run about an hour. We're being dropped on the outskirts of sector eight-seven-three. We move in on foot. The transport will draw more attention so it's better this way. He paused waiting for questions. When none were brought to his attention he decided it to be best if he just asked outright. "...Any questions?" No one spoke. Then Ludovick interrupted.
"Ummm, I think we covered that with the extremely long silence, LT." Vaughn rolled his eyes and turned the holo-projector off.
"Looks like your on the ball today, Ben." Von Konig looked at Ludovick.
"You're not the only one he wishes was on the ball today." Von Konig brought his hand to his mouth and gave a little cough, muttering the phrase "his balls" in between. Both troopers burst into uncontrollable laughter as Vaughn shot a glance at Cidney. The Sergeant sat shaking her head.
"Aren't you boys a little old for those smart-ass comments about there being something between me and the Lieutenant?" Silence.
"Ummm...No...."
"Lieutenant Vaughn, we're approaching your stop. Prepare for deployment." The LT turned to acknowledge the pilot's orders. Grabbing their gear each soldier stood standing by. When the door's control panel turned green they offloaded. Within seconds the transport was lifting off, leaving the troopers to complete their mission.

The sandy shore of the Californian coast stretched for miles on either side of them. Straight ahead they could see the ruins of a city. Undoubtedly deserted for sometime following the bug's invasion of Earth. Spreading out in formation the Vipers moved up the beach. The soft, dry sand sinking beneath their heavily armored bodies. Overhead dark storm clouds pushed across the sky heading inland to unleash their fury.
"I'll take point, Sir." Sergeant Velasquez said as she pushed through the formation to take the lead. Clearing the grassy bank they stopped to take in their surroundings. A lone beach-house sat wearily. Its windows were broken. It's rotting timbers making the scene before them look like a movie.
"Dammmmmmmmmn," Campbell spoke, dragging out the word. "This place looks like a good ol' fashioned shit hole!" He moved close to the house, peering in the windows and kicking at the loose boards with his boot.
"Let's keep moving, apes." Vaughn had a bad feeling about this mission. He wanted to complete it and return to the Valley Forge as soon as it was possible.
The city streets were lined with automobiles left behind by their fear-stricken owners in the rush to escape the city. The pavement was becoming weathered, spreading open so that the small weeds beneath would be given life.
"Looks like we still got some power." Everyone followed Malone's gaze to the changing streetlights up ahead.
"This is freakin' me out, LT. Can we keep moving?" Von Konig was becoming edgy. A bad omen for one who was usually fearless. Stepping forward he raised his weapon and flipped down his visor, sweeping his gaze across every building. The others instinctively did the same.
"It's clear." Campbell breathed a sigh of relief.
"If we're alone then why do I still have this feeling hanging over me?" Von Konig was just about to lower his guard when a pain-filled howl pierced the air.
Before Vaughn could give any orders his team was on the move. The thought of a fellow MI, or MI's for that matter, being attacked and killed by those fucking bugs was enough to make even the most battle-harden trooper loose his concentration and make mistakes.
"Pick up your guard. Ludovick, watch our rear. Bayonne take point...." As quickly as the squad had become disorganized they were back in formation and moving to the site. When they got there they were greeted by silence. Around them were the strewn bodies of citizens and civilians alike.
"Watch yourselves," Cidney muttered. Carefully she moved through the tangled masses of the dead. The coppery stench of spilt blood filled her nostrils and made her gag. Though she felt better when she realized that she was not the only one the site before them had affected. Bayonne, one of her closest and dearest friends, was leaning against a truck. His eyes were closed. His hands framed his pale face. Standing beside him was the team's medic, Private Andrew Kenzie. Kenzie's hand was on Bayonne's shoulder and they were talking. About what? Cidney couldn't tell at the moment but it appeared that the discovery of the bodies was too overpowering for the Corporal. He would be of no use when they began sorting and transporting the bodies of the citizens, although his help would be needed for the graves that needed to be dug for the civilians.
Rain had begun to soak into the cracks of Vaughn's powersuit. The shoulders of his t-shirt were darkened and clinging to his damp skin.
"Stupid friggin' suit..." Cidney cursed as she peeled her helmet and shoulder armor off and tossed it to the ground. The rain was pouring out of the sky now, but the coolness of it felt good, taking away the sweat they had worked up while digging the rows of graves. No more then twenty feet away, Von Konig sat with his feet hanging over the edge a hole he was in the process of covering over. Taking his time he unfastened his canteen from his pack and took a long refreshing drink.
" How many more do we got?"
"This should be the last one." Kenzie bellowed from his location. Bayonne was finally feeling better and was helping Kenzie lower the body into a hole.
"Hey, check it out, wet t-shirt competition with the Sarge!" Malone called out. The entire squad let out a laugh. Lt Vaughn tried to remain serious but couldn't stop himself from grinning. Cidney went over and playfully slapped the trooper in the back of the head.
"Alright apes, back to work. Malone keep your eyes on the task at hand." Vaughn called out. Cidney looked him in the eyes, silently thanking him for drawing attention away from her. Vaughn smiled and his eyes lingered on her rain-drenched figure as she continued to dig.
Gathering their gear, the squad took one last glimpse back at the now deserted road. No more bodies lingered there decaying from prolonged exposure to the elements, and at that, they released a thankful sigh.
"Come on Vipers. Lets keep moving. Our job here is done." Vaughn almost had to prod them like cattle to get them back on track.
A little more then an hour had passed since they had left the deceased when Vaughn heard a call come across on the comm-link.
"Lieutenant, this is Campbell. We've spotted the convoy and are requesting permission to move in and secure the perimitter?"
"Are you picking up any movement?"
"No, Sir. This place reeks of death."
"Copy that, Private. Stay sharp. We'll be there in Zero Five. Vaughn Out." Turning to Von Konig he nodded. "Get the others. They've found it."